Gita 18.67
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन | न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ||६७||
idaṁ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana | na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṁ na ca māṁ yo 'bhyasūyati ||67||
In essence: This teaching should never be spoken to one without austerity, without devotion, unwilling to hear, or to one who speaks ill of Me.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "This sounds exclusive. Isn't spiritual knowledge meant to be shared freely?"
Guru: "There's a difference between hoarding and protecting. A doctor doesn't give powerful medicine to everyone - not because medicine is exclusive but because wrong use causes harm. Similarly, 'abandon all dharmas' in wrong ears becomes 'do whatever you want.' The restriction protects both the teaching and the unprepared recipient."
Sadhak: "How do I know if someone has tapas, bhakti, and willingness to hear?"
Guru: "Look for signs: Do they practice discipline in their life? Is there genuine devotion to something beyond themselves? Do they approach with humility, ready to receive rather than debate? Do they speak respectfully of the Divine? Perfect assessment isn't required - but sharing carelessly is warned against."
Sadhak: "'One who speaks ill of Me' - what if someone has genuine doubts but expresses them critically?"
Guru: "There's a difference between questioning and maligning. Arjuna questioned intensely throughout the Gita - that's honest seeking. 'Abhyasuyati' refers to malice, jealousy, active contempt. The genuine doubter who criticizes from confusion can be helped; the malicious critic who speaks from hatred cannot receive what he rejects."
Sadhak: "Does this mean I need to evaluate everyone before discussing the Gita?"
Guru: "Not evaluate but discern. You can share preliminary teachings widely - karma yoga, ethical living, general spirituality. But the supreme secret of complete surrender should be shared with discretion. It's like discussing advanced mathematics: you can talk about numbers with anyone, but calculus requires preparation."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Reflect: 'Am I ready to receive this teaching? Do I have tapas - some discipline in my life? Do I have bhakti - genuine devotion? Am I willing to hear and serve? Do I approach Krishna with love rather than criticism?' Self-evaluation before evaluating others.
When opportunities arise to share spiritual knowledge, discern the readiness of the listener. This isn't about withholding but about appropriate sharing. Preliminary teachings can be offered widely; the supreme secret of total surrender should be shared where there's receptivity.
Examine: 'Did I share appropriately today? Did I offer pearls where they could be received? Did I withhold from genuine seekers out of false caution?' Finding the balance between protection and generosity is an ongoing practice.